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After the Confession 

And other Verses 



by iiC-:. 

ADOLPHE DANZIGER 

Author of something else. 



NEW YORK : 

ADOLPHE DANZIGER, 

49, Wall Street. 









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Copyright 1908, by Adolfihe Danziger. 



JUST A WORD. 

Several years ago I had gathered a 
large number of verses which were 
about to be published when I was 
suddenly deprived of that pleasure by 
a person who borrowed the manuscript 
and never returned it. Upon inquiry 
I was told that the manuscript had 
been stolen. Having no other copy, 
and not willing to set a detective on 
the track of the thief, although, I 
confess, I should have liked to make 
his acquaintance, the public was per- 
chance spared an affliction. 

Incidentally, I may say that a 
paternal government might subsidise 
a thief of that sort for the purpose of 
having the works of putative poets 
opportunely stolen. 

However, I sincerely regret the loss 
of my manuscrip because it contained 
mar?) poems to my mother, and 
these I have been unable to re-write 
from memory ; but I shall know them, 
and so will a great many who read 
some of them as they appeared in the 
Press. 

With this note of warning my 
purpose is fully served. 

ADOLPHE DANZIGER. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Just a Word 3 

After the Confession .... 7 

Just a Flower 10 

Could I but Tell 11 

Bonne Nuit— Good- Night 12 

The Song of Songs - - - - - 13 

Is it Love? 15 

Ask Me Not 16 

The Long Kiss 17 

Gypsy Love - 17 

When Thou Wert Wholly Mine 18 

As of Yore 19 

To a Eose 20 

The Flower's Sorrow 21 

Love's Lullaby 22 

The Words from Thy Lips 24 

Leave Me Not 25 

Cupid Comes Stealing ----- 26 

The King's Lament 27 

The Castle on the Lee .... 30 

To the Strong 34 

Twilight 35 

The Lily and the Rose ... 36 

Courage is King ------ 38 

To My Lady 38 

Inconstancy 39 

Eest 39 

Die Woerter Deiner Lippen 40 

Lass mich nicht ------ 41 

Blumen Liebe ------ 42 

Frage nicht ------- 43 

Wein und Weiber ----- 44 

Guter Eat 45 

Das Meerweib 47 



AFTER THE CONFESSION. 



I oft forget religious feasts 
In culling love's sweet roses. 
Alike to me are Church and Creed 
Of Christ or that of Moses. 

For both proclaim that thou shalt love 
Thy neighbour with affection, 
And I, in sooth, have never failed 
To give him my protection. 

To love a neighbour as thyself, 
Is sweet, and well and human, 
But one can more intensely love 
A neighbour who's a Woman. 

Not long ago my neighbour was 
A maid of Jewish fashion, 
Who taught me the Mosaic laws 
With oriental passion. 

She's married now, her husband is 
A portly Jewish brother, 
But neighbour love, that gentle law, 
I practise with another. 

For now my neighbour is a maid 
The Church of Rome professes, 
Her eyes are like the ocean's depth, 
Like amber are her tresses. 
7 



After the Confession 

I love Marie and love her faith, 
Which was for comfort given, 
For one may sin and tell the Priest 
And soon be wholly shriven. 

But people do not always tell 
Of all the sins committed, 
A tiny sinlet here and there 
Is now and then omitted. 

It was not always thus, in Rome 
The penitents did spinning, 
To-day one gives the Church her 

pence 
And gladly goes on sinning. 

But cease this thought, my neighbour 

fair. 
On whom my love now centers, 
Anon, like incarnated rhythm, 
My lonely chamber enters. 

What bodes this look, to her I say, 
This highly wrought expression. 
This is, she answers, Easter week, 
And I have made confession. 

Didst tell the Priest, I cry, how oft 
My breast thy bosom crushes 
Until thine alabaster neck 
Is dyed with crimson blushes. 



And Other Verses. 

Didst tell — " Now, hush," she calmly 

says, 
11 To practise virtue better, 
I've told the Priest of ev'ry sin, 
Aye, to the very letter. 

"I am a better Christian now, 
No sin my soul distresses, 
'Tis sweet, my dear, to be absolved 
When one but full confesses." 

'Tis truth, delightedly I cry, 
The mind is dull that misses 
To note the change — I know, Marie, 
I feel it in — thy kisses. 

For only one as pure as thou 
Can laugh such saintly laughter, 
Marie, my dear, confess again, 
Thy love is sweeter after. 



After the Confession 



JUST A FLOWER. 



A flow'r in a garden grew, 
Of dulcet scent and fairest hue; 
This gentle flow'r was for an hour 
The sweetest flow'r I ever knew. 

That little flower trusted me, 

And loved me very tenderly; 

It wept and blushed as it was 
crushed, 

Yet spake no angry word to me. 

In sooth, it was a merry start — 
I gaily played the lover's part; 
Then came a day I would away — 
Another flow'r had won my heart. 
The pretty flow'r hung its head 
When I farewell so lightly said ; 
It ne'er replied, nor even cried— 
Alas ! the little flow'r was dead 1 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



And Other Verses. n 



COULD I BUT TELL . 



Could I but tell what moves my soul 
When I thy gracious smile behold, 

Could I but hope to reach the goal 
Where scenes of bliss their charms 
unfold. 

Could I but dwell with thee, my love, 
In sylvan silence far away, 

Where none but chanting birds above 
Attune to rapture love's sweet lay. 

Could I but have my heart's desire, 
I'd prouder than a monarch be; 

For love endows with heavenly fire, 
And makes all mankind proud and 
free. 



12 After the Confession 

"BONNE NUIT." 
(Good Night.) 

® @> @> 

That night, dear heart, when first we 

met, 
I never can forget, Marie; 
When from thy lips in accents sweet, 
I heard thy gracious " bonne nuit." 

Mine ears have heard so oft since then 
Its rare, bewitching melody, 
That ev'ry zephyr breathes to me 
A tender, thrilling ■' bonne nuit." 

That night of thee, my love, I 

dreamed, 
Our hearts were twain in Paradise; 
I heard again that " bonne nuit," 
Again I saw thy laughing eyes. 

How oft my soul hath sought the spell 
Thy grace and voice bestow, Marie; 
Oh, let me see thee once again, 
That I may hear sweet " bonne nuit." 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



And Other Verses. 13 

THE SONG OF SONGS. 

(Das Hohe Lied.) 

By Heinrich Heine. 
Translated in the same metrical form. 



A woman is a poem grand 
That God, by genius smitten, 

With graceful touch and master hand, 
In Nature's book has written. 

He chose the moment well enough 

To form his inspiration, 
And made of that rebellious stuff 

An excellent creation. 

In sooth, a woman's body far 

Surpasses all romances, 
Her limbs, so white and plastic, are 

The most poetic stanzas. 

How well the gracious Poet wrought 
The neck — he curved so finely — 

And on it poised the central thought — 
The curly head, divinely. 

The billowed breasts, with rosebuds 
done, 
Are epigrams in measure; 
The metric space between each one 
Affords enchanting pleasure. 

2 



14 After the Confession 

The Poet's plastic art reveals 
Each hip, which full of grace is; 

The mystic Ode the leaf conceals, 
A noble Law embraces. 

No fanciful conception this, 
But flesh and blood that hisses 

With passion, speech, and lips that 
kiss 
In rhymed and metric kisses. 

Here rings the truest poetry 
With grace in each inflection, 

And on its face indelibly 

Is stamped divine perfection. 

I praise Thee, Lord, as praise I must, 
And all the world shall know it, 

Compared with Thee we're bungling 
dust, 
O, matchless, heavenly Poet. 

I ponder deeply ev'ry way 
Thy work of plastic beauty, 

And tireless am by night and day 
In this divinest duty. 

And sweet it is to revel in 
Thy work with soul and body, 

Though, Lord, I'm growing pale and 
thin 
From overzealous study. 



And Other Verses, 15 



IS IT LOVE? 



Why are thine eyes cast down, sweet 
maid, 

Why are thy cheeks so rosy red ? 

Why are thy hands on bosom laid, 

Why bowest thou thy gentle head ? 
Is it love ? O, maiden speak I 
Is it love, the love I seek ? 

Why doth my heart in raptures beat 

What thou art nigh, when thou art 
nigh ? 

Why do I tremble when we meet? 

I fain would speak, yet can but sigh I 
Is it love ? O, maiden speak I 
Is it love, the love I seek? 

Adoring, at thy feet I kneel, 
And ask no more if love it be; 
The sweet, exquisite pain I feel 
Has solved the sacred mystery. 

Love, sweet love, my heart doth 
speak ; 

'Tis the love, the love I seek ! 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



1 6 After the Confession 



ASK ME NOT. 



Ask me not why thus I love you, 
Why my heart so pines for you; 
Ask the roses why they wither 
Without sunshine, without dew. 

See that e'en the poorest sunflow'r, 
Knowing where to find her bliss, 
Turns her face bedecked with dew- 
drops 
To the sunlight for a kiss. 

Dear, I know but that I love you 
More than roses love the dewj 
More than sunflow'rs long for day- 
light, 
Do I, dearest, long for you. 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



And Other Verses. 17 

THE LONG KISS, OR LOVE'S 
MILLENNIUM. 

(To Georgina.) 
® # ®> 
Had I a thousand years to live 

And one in which to call you mine, 
I'd gladly choose the one and give 
Away nine hundred ninety-nine. 

That year I'd use to drink in sips 
Nine hundred ninety-nine of bliss. 

And, hanging on your honeyed lips, 
I'd kiss a year one single kiss. 

GYPSY LOVE. 

Sg> 9 @> 
Would'st win my love, then kiss to 
blood my lips, 
Tear shred by shred my garb, with 
mad impress 
A bear like, rend and claw my 
quiv'ring flesh, 
Destroy my last defense to thy 
caress. 

When crushed I lie beneath thy grasp 
and spent, 
My love is won, I then obey thy nod 
And, crawling at thy feet, thou master 
man, 
I worship thee, my conqueror, my 
god. 



1 8 After the Confession 



WHEN THOU WERT WHOLLY 

MINE. 



Some day, when twilight shadows fall 
On paths that love with light 
endow 'rs, 
Thou wilt with longing heart recall 
The thrilling bliss of those sweet 
hours 

When thou wert wholly mine 
Dear love, and I was thine. 

And then, beloved, thou wilt fret, 

And call the blissful past in vain ; 
But sighs and tears and sad regret 
Can never, never bring again 

The days when thou wert mine, 
Dear love, and I was thine. 

Then strain me to thy heaving breast, 

And let me press my lips to thine ! 
Oh, let us guard each moment lest 
We should recall with grief ferine, 
The days when thou wert mine, 
Dear love, and I was thine. 

[^ « ® $ 

£ $ $ 



And Other Verses. 19 

AS OF YORE. 



I dream as lilies dream and sigh, 
Upon the moon illumined plain ; 

I sing as swans that sing and die, 
And think my song will still the 
pain. 

I pray that light again might shine 
Upon the scene of former bliss, 

When, pillowed on thy breast divine, 
I drank the nectar of thy kiss. 

My love, my love, my Heart's desire, 
I long for thee, for none but thee ! 

O, come and tune the golden lyre 
To love's delightful harmony; 

And heart to heart and eyes to eyes, 
We'll live in rapture as of yore; 

The world shall be our Paradise, 
And naught shall part us evermore ! 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



20 After the Confession 

TO A ROSE. 



I love thee in thy red array, 
Thy fragrant heart with gems 
bedight ; 

I love thee as the light of day, 
I love thee as the starlit night. 

I knew thee in a better life, 

Where death was not nor was decay, 

And peace, unmarred by human strife, 
Sublimely made the perfect day. 

Until the mystic Voice divine 

Ordained my soul to mortal's doom, 

And thee, O, sister soul of mine, 
A hued and fragrant rose to bloom. 

I found thee in thy red array, 

Thy fragrant heart with gems 
bedight, 

I love thee as the light of day, 
I love thee as the starlit night. 



And Other Verses. 21 

THE FLOWER'S SORROW. 



A flow'r complained to me one day, 
When still the dew upon her lay; 
Her sigh told more than she confessed, 
And pity 'rose within my breast. 
Alas ! the pretty little flow'rs 
Too often know their sadder hours; 
The scent that they to us impart 
Is grieving from a broken heart. 

At morning, when the sun is bright, 
The Flowers' sorrow comes to light; 
Deceived, they from their dreams 

arise, 
And teardrops sparkle in their eyes. 
Shame lends the rose a ruddy grace, 
But passion pales the lily's face. 
Alas, poor flow'rs, they love in gloom, 
And weep at morn — yet still they 

bloom ! 



$ $ 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



22 After the Confession 



LOVE'S LULLABY, 



Hush, my love, the night is falling, 
Twilight gleameth in the west, 
And the nightingale is calling 
His beloved to the nest. 
Blow-wee, blow-wee 
I made a bed of fragrant rose, love, 
And pillow soft for two, love, 
A dulcet nest for true love, 
Where thou and I shall find repose, 
love, 
Blow-wee, blow- wee. 

See, my love, the stars are beaming 

Passion-fire in ev'ry ray, 
And each star is fondly dreaming 
Of a star love far away. 
Blow-wee, blow-wee 
Ring out, sing out, the day is done, 

love, 
The nest is made for two, love, 
A paradise for true love 
Where thou and I shall be as one, 
love, 

Blow-wee, blow- wee. 



And Other Verses. 23 

Hush, my love, and cease repining, 

Lay thy head on to my breast; 
And thy heart to peace inclining, 
Shall be lulled to gentle rest. 
Blow-wee, blow-wee. 
Then kiss and whisper low, good- 
night, love, 
Our cozy nest for two, love, 
Shall be a nest for true love, 
For ever light and ever bright, love. 
Blow-wee, blow- wee. 



24 After the Confession 



THE WORDS FROM THY LIPS. 



The sweet words thy fair lips have 

spoken 

Have robbed me of peace and of 

sleep ; 

Their music proclaims them a token — 

How rare is thy love and how deep ! 

And over those dear words I ponder, 
I ponder by day and by night; 

In darkness no more can I wander, 
Yet dare not appear in the light. 

I will not that freedom shall find me, 
If by it from thee I must part; 

Be gracious, beloved, and bind me 
With fetters of love to thy heart ! 



Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



And Other Verses. 25 



LEAVE ME NOT. 



Leave me not to grief and pining. 

For I need thy sweet caress 
As a rose the sunlight's shining, 

And the dewdrops tenderness. 
Wilt thou break the word once 
spoken, 

When thy heart was love arrayed; 
Shall life's dearest, sweetest token, 

Like a flower be decayed. 

Leave me not to pain and sorrow 

At the door of life's delight; 
Loneliness no joy can borrow 

From a hopeless, gloomy night. 
Leave me not; 'tis all I'm pleading, 

Thinking only this one thought ; 
Crying, while my heart is bleeding, 

Leave me not, oh, leave me not ! 



© @> 



26 After the Confession 



CUPID COMES STEALING. 



Cupid comes stealing, 
A thief in the night, 

Silently kneeling 

With bow-string in right. 

Treading quite lightly, 
Love passes the heart; 

Cupid draws tightly 
And speedeth his dart. 

Mortally wounded, 

Love weepeth with pain ; 
Cupid, unbounded, 

But laughs at the slain. 

Cupid comes stealing, 
A thief in the night; 

Deftly concealing 

His arrows from sight. 

He mocketh love's play 
Till the rise of the sun, 

And flieth away 

When the mischief is done. 



And Other Verses, 27 



THE KING'S LAMENT, 



Alive, no, no, I'm dead, 
My tortured soul is fled; 
My body chilled and sore, 
Will feel her touch no more 
In love as oft before. 

What vile and traitor hand, 
By jealousy unmanned, 
Destroyed my gentle queen, 
So regal in her mien, 
So saintly and serene. 

Or was it by a nod, 

Of a capricious god, 

My gladness to disperse, 

A demon so perverse 

Was sent, then him I curse. 

I curse, I curse the pow'r 
That gave me for an hour 
The most exquisite joy 
And then, as were't a toy, 
With malice to destroy. 



28 After the Confession 

Of thousands that have sold 
Their bodies vile for gold, 
The vast and endless train, 
Of those that live in pain 
And hope they would be slain. 

Of misery's broad field 
That human thistles yield. 
And life with evil dow'r, 
He vented not his pow'r, 
But crushed my gentle flow'r. 

Is madness this, or spite, 
In horror to delight? 
Oh, ne'er will I believe 
The reaper cuts the sheave 
The tender plants to grieve. 

The reaper cuts to feed 
A lower kind of breed, 
And where he cuts he sows; 
He harrows, but he knows 
The soil much richer grows. 

The plants thus cut away, 
Give seed another day; 
But human hearts that die, 
With agonizing cry, 
For ever buried lie. 



And Other Verses. 29 

What happiness if one 
Could die when love is done, 
And break life's iron band, 
Or, with a sweep of hand, 
Our pain to cease command. 

But no, our mem'ries live, 
And thousand tortures give; 
Unquenched remains desire 
In hearts with grief on fire, 
Until our souls expire. 

We're proud and potent kings 
When love's sweet summons rings; 
The golden crowns we wear, 
Bode not a single care, 
Until there comes despair. 

We rule with gentle hand 
This dream and flower land; 
When love's sweet rose is blown, 
We're kings, when love is flown, 
We're kings without a Ihrone. 



9 



30 After the Confession 



THE CASTLE ON THE LEE. 

(A Parable.) 



A man there was and rich was he, 
As rich a man as man could be. 
He ruled all men as like a god, 
And each obeyed his slightest nod, 

And like a god he wished to dwell 
Above the lot whose life is hell. 
By fancy lured, he raised his head, 
And to his own proud self he said : 

I am a multimillionaire, 
I'll build a castle in the air, 
A mighty fort upon a lee, 
Above the forest, hill and sea. 

I'll soar as mighty eagles, clear 
Above the earth, and laugh at fear 
That grips the human worms below 
As thunders roll and tempests blow. 

/ shall defy the crash and shock 
Within my house of granite rock. 

The backs of thousand slaves were 

bent 
'Neath heavy loads, and rocks were 

rent 



And Other Verses. 31 

And marble cut to perfect art 
To lend a grace to ev'ry part. 



Until there stood quite firm and fair 
The castle of the millionaire. 
A turret room, octagonal, 
Rose high above the lordly hall. 

The windows were of gems whose 

sheen 
Did magnify the outer scene, 
And aurophones were set around 
To carry inward ev'ry sound. 

Thus passed in panoramic view 
The son of toil, at work with thew, 
To force the patient mother field 
The food for man and beast to yield. 



He heard the shepherd's call, the barks 
Of docile dogs and songs of larks. 
He saw the hills with bristling trees, 
And heard the brooklet as it flees 



In throes of fear from clefts of gloom, 
He saw the toilers at the loom, 
Bereft of hope, bereft of joy, 
A rag of life — the Reaper's toy. 



32 After the Confession 

He heard the groans, he heard the 

sobs, 
He saw the ragged, hungry mobs, 
He heard their cry for work and bread, 
He saw the slaughter and the dead — 

He heard it all and saw it all 
From yonder lofty turret hall. 
And thrice he laughed in boundless 

mirth. 
What bliss, he said, to see the earth 

From this secure and lofty height. 
Behold, it whets my appetite 
To see again the earthly pest, 
I'll doubly then enjoy my rest. 

And as the moments came and went, 
He felt exceedingly content. 

And, gazing at the sky, he saw 
What seemed a speck, a little flaw, 
The matchless, perfect blue contained, 
That soon, like forces held enchained 

And loosened, leapt, grew black and 

low'r'd 
With boding wrath, then rolled and 

roared. 
The ocean heaved, convulsed with 

pain, 
His foamy head again, again, 



And Other Verses. 33 

Was crashed against the rocky wall, 
Despairful moanings in its fall, 
And on the furies sprang or crept 
Then at the trembling forest leapt. 

The leaves in murmurs told their dread 
The trees bent low, the furies sped 
Away through forest hill and dale 
With gruesome havoc in their trail. 

The millionaire contently thought, 
The house is strong my slaves have 

wrought, 
I can defy the crash and shock 
Within my house of granite rock. 

His pride was just, his house was good, 
The storm's attack it quite withstood. 
And proudly then he raised his head 
And thus defiantly he said : 

I hold the mighty magic rod, 
I fear no man, I fear no god, 
I laugh at both and them I mock 
Within my house of granite rock. 

An earthquake came and wrenched the 

lee, 
The granite house fell in the sea, 
It took the castle from the air 
And also took the millionaire. 



34 After the Confession 



TO THE STRONG. 



And yet withal, the world loves not a 

fool ; 
'Tis he, who fiercely fights with 

might and main, 
That wins the day ; the brave will live ; 

the rule 
Holds good for man and beast; the 

weak are slain 
To give the strong their boding force 

to try 
Full use of life; the quick will live the 

slow must die. 

So great is courage's pow'r, that e'en 

the eyes 
Of love' that much forgive, a craven 

heart 
That beats with fear and halts, will 

soon despise. 
For love loves courage as the 

chiefest part, 
And courage wins when whining 

cowards fail 
As winds serve best a full resisting 

sail. 



And Other Verses. 35 

So loved are the strong, that e'en the 

Crucified 
Holds forth to them His pierced and 

bleeding hand, 
And says : In agony and death I've 

tried 
To teach that strength is God's 

supreme command ; 
For they who suffer much and suffer 

long, 
Though weak in flesh, remain in spirit 

strong. 



TWILIGHT. 



Behold, how bits of rose and blue' 
In fancifully blended hue, 
Are fading into lambent air 
That glints upon the sea ; and there 
The heaving, ever-changing light 
Is rocked to wait the coming night ; 
The sea devours the day. 
As light is swept away 
Despairing voices call ; 
The darksome shadows fall 
Upon the world of light, 
And then, farewell, good-night ! 



36 After the Confession 

THE LILY AND THE ROSE. 
(A Persian Fable.) 

®> ® @> 

When God had willed this world to 
be, 
He smiled, and lo, His very face 
Enflamed a scene of symmetry, 
Of beauty, love and matchless 
grace. 

And dulcet sounds from flowers rang 
Wherein the gentle zephyrs played, 

While love its sweetest cadence sang 
In all the Master Mind had made. 

As night had fallen on the scene, 
The lily — glowing deeply red, 
The rose, that gleamed in white 
serene, 
With fervent speech did woo, and 
said : 

Oh, rose, fair rose, I pray, incline 
Thine ear and harken to my plea, 

Behold, my heart with love ferine 
Is burning, fairest rose, for thee. 

The rose then said : I can't return 
Thy passion, for the Lord above 

No blood infused my veins to burn 
With fierce desire, I cannot love. 



And Other Verses. 37 

At this the lily's passion grew 

Yet more intense, her heart would 
break 
If love came not to save, she knew, 
And sighed. At length she smiled 
and spake : 

Fair rose of love, do not despair, 
The Lord in wisdom did ordain 

That I my blood with thee shall share 
And share with thee all bliss and 
pain. 

The rose then smiled with silent scorn, 
Prepared to play a hateful part, 

She forthwith sent her sharpest thorn 
To pierce the loving lily's heart. 

The lily's blood flowed all the night 

Upon the rose's face and head, 
And morning found the lily white, 

The rose a deep and vivid red. 

And when the rose was thus arrayed 
In carmined dress of rarest hue, 

And gems wherein the sunbeams 
played, 
A Fairy gave her fragrance, too. 

But since the rose did not repent, 
And gloried at her suitor's woe, 

The Lord imposed a punishment 
That she on thorny stalks should 
grow. 

4 



38 After the Confession 



TO MY LADY. 



No crown can sweeter graces 
Thy womanhood impart, 
For, written on thy face, is 
A noble mind and heart. 



COURAGE IS KING. 

A New Year's Toast. 



To friends we have made and plans we 

have laid 
If noble the thought that laid them 
No failure or fear can touch us this 

year 
For friends are true if — we made them. 

So up with a cheer to the vanished old 

year 
And hail with delight the new one 
Let bravely us sing, for Courage is 

King 
And stick to friend who's a true one. 



And Other Verses. 39 

INCONSTANCY. 

$ ® 

Woman doomed to constant fretting 

For a lover far away 
Falls a victim to — forgetting 

When another comes to stay. 

REST. 



Behind the crest of yonder purpling 
hill, 
Low sinks the splendor glowing 
western sun; 
The perfumed air is calm and sweetly 
still, 
For now the day is past and toil is 
done. 

Upon the breast of night, in sweet 
repose 
The wearied earth reclines her grate- 
ful head; 
Forgotten all her sins and griefs and 
woes, 
She dreams of love, and in her 
dream is glad. 

Set to music by Mr. Robert Coverley. 



40 After the Confession 

THE WORDS FROM THY LIPS. 

Translation by the Author. 
Die Worter Deiner Lippen. 



Du hast mir mit zartlichen Worten 
Das Herz und die Seele betriibt ; 

Du hast mir so vollig bewiesen, 
Wie hingebend Du mich geliebt. 

Doch bin ich so traurig und elend, 
Mein Herz mir vor Wehmut schier 
bricht; 
Nun kann ich im Dunkel nicht 
wandeln, 
Und wage mich doch nicht ans 
Licht. 

Drum fuhre mich hiitlich, Du Holde, 
Ich weile ja gerne bei Dir ; 

Ach, bind mich mit Ketten der Liebe ! 
Dan dien' ich Dir fur und fiir ! 



© 



And Other Verses. 41 



LEAVE ME NOT. 

Translation by the Author. 
Lass Mich Nicht. 



Lass mich nicht denn Furcht und 
Bangen 

Fuellt mein Herz und truebt den 
Blick ; 
Sterben muss ich vor Verlangen 

Ohne Dich, oh, Du, mein Glueck. 
Treue hast Du mir geschworen, 

Innig klang Dein suesser Eid; 
Dein war ich, von Dir erkoren, 

Dich zu lieben nur geweiht. 

Lass mich nicht in Gram und Sorgen 
Waehrend noch das Glueck uns 
lacht ; 

Freude kann der Tag nicht borgen 
Von der hoffnungslosen Nacht. 

Lass mich nicht — ich bin entmuthet; 

Wie ein Blinder fleht nach Licht 
Fleh' ich weil mein Herz verblutet, 

Lass mich nicht, oh, lass mich night ! 



42 After the Confession 

THE FLOWERS' LOVE. 

Blumen Liebe. 



Ich sah 'ne thau 'ge Blume, 
Gar herrlich aufgeblueht ; 

Doch hoert' ich ihre Klage 
Im innersten Gemueth. 

Ich hoerte dass die Blume 
Hat einen stillen Schmerz, 

Und ist ihr koestlich Duften 
Ein seufzend Blumenherz. 

Es bringt die Morgen Sonne 
Geheimen Gram ans Licht; 

Die Blume steht und seufzet, 
Thauthraenen im Gesicht. 

Oh, sage, holde Rose, 

Hat Scham dir Roeth' vererbt? 
Bist du, oh, weisse Lilie, 

Von Leidenschaft entfaerbt? 

Ihr liebt, oh, holde Blumen, 
An naechtlich stillem Ort, 

Und trotz der Schmerzens Thraenen 
So blueht ihr weiter fort. 



And Other Verses. 43 

ASK ME NOT. 

Translation by the Author. 
Frage Nicht. 



Frage nicht warum ich lieb' Dich, 
Gluehend Dir ins Auge schau' ; 

Frag' warum die Rosen welken 
Ohne Sonne, ohne Thau. 

Sieh' die armen Sonnenblumen, 
Wenden stets ihr Angesicht, 

Und verlangend ewig suchen 
Einen Kuss vom Sonnenlicht. 

Ach, ich weiss nur dass ich lieb' 
Dich, 

Dass ich rasend bin und blind ; 
Denn was Sonne ist den Blumen 

Das mir Deine Augen sind ! 



• 
9 



44 After the Confession 



WEIN UND WEIBER, 

Lied einer Ungarin. 



Ohne Wein da isch ka Leben, 

Ohne Liab isch ka Sein ; 
Ohne Sonne kaine Reben, 

Ohne Reben kainen Wein. 

Ohne Weiber kaine Kisse, 

Ohne Kisse kaine Lust; 
Ohne Lust nur Aergernisse, . 

Wachsen in der Menschenbrust. 

Drum Du Herz' ger, lass uns kissen, 
Lass betaiben uns den Sinn; 

Lass der ganzen Welt es wissen, 
Dass ich Daine Liabste bin. 






And Other Verses. 45 



GUTER RAT, 



Mein Sohn, sei gut wie sich's gebuehrt, 
Der Menschenlieb' ergieb Dich ganz, 
Den selbst beim Schweine oft sich 
ruehrt 
Recht mitleidscoll der krause 
Schwanz. 

Nimm Alles was Dein Aug' begehrt, 
Auf Reichthum sei Dein Sinn 
bedacht, 

Weil Alles was ein Schwein verzehrt 
So ziemlich guten Schinken macht. 

Und siehst Du jeh bei einem Mann 
'Ne Zucker-Kringel, nimm sie doch, 

Und iss sie auf, der Dumme kann 
Begnuegt sein mit dem schoenen 
Loch. 

Leih' Geld, mein Sohn, warum denn 
nicht? 

Der Edle froehnt der edlen That, 
Doch hoere was von Pfand man spricht 

Ob Werth es fuer die Summa hat. 



After the Confession 

In Glaubens Sachen sei recht schlau, 
Der Glaube ist ein hart Geschwuer, 

Drum ist's gescheuter wenn Du oft 
Halb often laesst die Meinungs 
Thuer. 

Zum Beispiel : 

Der Pastor Mueller sagt zu mir : 

" Die Heil'ge Schrift die unterweist, 
Dass Christus mit zwei Broden hat 

Fuenf tausend Menschen einst 
gespeist. 

11 Nun glauben Sie's, mein lieber 
Stein ? 
" Gewiss, ich glaub' es ganz wie 
'n Kind, 
Nur"-— "Was," schreit Mueller," 
was meint nur ? 
" Ob sie auch satt geworden sind? 

Mit bestem Gruss an Gross und Klein, 
Dein lieber Vater Itzig Stein. 



And Other Verses. 47 



DAS MEER WEIB. 



Steigend aus dem blauen Meere, 
Farbenreich im Sonnenglanz; 

Sah ein Juengling eines Tages, 
Einen grossen Wallfisch-schwanz. 

Auf der Spitze dieses Schwanzes, 
Sass ein herrlich schoenes Weib ; 

Meeres-tiefe in den Augen 
Alabaster gleich der Leib. 

Auf dem Ruecken hing ihr langes, 
Seidenweiches schwarz Gelock; 

Und den blendend weissen Busen 
Deckte duennes Schaum-Geflock. 

Bald erhob sie ihre Stimme, 
Wunder suess war ihr Gesang; 

Gluecklich schien der Fisch im 
Wasser 
Doch dem Juengling wurde bang. 

Siisser tonen ihre Laute 

Und der Jungling steht und 
Iauscht, 
Augen, Haar, Gesang and Busen, 

Hoben vollig ihn berauscht. 



48 After the Confession 

Und sie lud ihn mitzukommen, 
In den Unter-See Palast; 

Dort ein Weilchen auszuruhen, 
Als ihr einzig liebster Cast. 

Viele Leute sind da unten 
Alle werden amuesirt; 

Und so manchen guten Dichter, 
Hab' ich dort schon eingefuehrt. 

Dichter hassen zwar das Wasser 
Ihre Force ist der Wein 

Doch vergiebt sich Mancher Etwas 
In dem Kreise Gast zu sein. 

Also sprach die holde Nixe, 

Und der Juengling ging mit ihr; 

Reitend auf des Fisches Schwanze, 
In das Unter See Quartir. 



23 1^08 



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m 



